Baggage check



Feb. 19, 1963 M. 'BFGWINN 3,077,684

BAGGAGE CHECK Filed Dec. 12, 1960 v 1 I igg II INVENTOR.

M. Benjaman Gwinn BY WHITEHEAD, VOGL 8 LOWE A TTORNEYS 3,077,684 BAGGAGECHECK M. Benjamin Gwinn, 84975 E. 40th Ave, Denver, Colo. Filed Dec. 12,196%, Ser. No. 75,287 1 Claim. (Ci. iii-Q1) This invention relates tobaggage checks, and more particularly to baggage checks of the generaltype having a numbered tag which is adapted to be attached to an articleof baggage when it is being shipped and a correspondingly numbered stubwhich is retained by the owner of the baggage to permit him to claim thebaggage by matching the stub with the tag. Accordingly, the inventionwill be hereinafter referred to as a baggage check and the componentsthereof will be called a tag and a stub.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved baggagecheck which is formed as a simple rectangular blank of paper orlightweight cardboard including the tag and stub and with the stubportion being adapted to be severed from the tag at a perforated linebetween them.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedbaggage check having a tag portion which may be quickly and easilylooped about a baggage handle or strap and affixed thereto as a closedloop by simply bringing the ends of the tag together and without the useof strings, clips or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedbaggage check tag which may be snugly and securely affixed to a baggagehandle or strap in a selected position where the tag will not bedisturbed by normal handling of the baggage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedbaggage check tag which may be snugly and securely aflixed to a baggagehandle or strap at any selected position regardless of the size or shapeof the handle or strap.

Yet other objects of the invention are to provide a novel and improvedbaggage check construction which is simple, neat, economical and may befurnished in quantity as compact bundles or books or in neat compactpackages.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, all of which more fullyhereinafter appear, my invention comprises certain improvedconstructions, combinations and arrangements of parts and elements ashereinafter described, defined in the appended claim and illustrated, inpreferred embodiment, in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the outer side of a rectangularbaggage check blank constructed according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the inner side of the blank shown atFIG. 1.

'FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a portion of an article of baggage,hereinafter referred to as a suitcase, showing the tab portion of thecheck as being affixed to the suitcase handle but before the stub isremoved.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, as taken from theindicated line 4-4 at FIG. 3 but on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a suitcase showing thetab portion of the check as being afiixed to a strip, and with the stubremoved.

Whenever a suitcase or a like article of baggage is placed in transit oris otherwise mixed with other baggage there must be some means ofidentifying the suitcase so that the owner may properly claim it at theend of the trip. Most conventional types of baggage checks are formed ason cards or tags having strings for attachment to the baggage, and alsostubs which are disconnected from the cards and retained by the ownersof the baggage. The obvious disadvantages of such types of baggagechecks are that an appreciable amount of time is required to properlytie the tags onto the baggage and when so tied, the tags can flip andmove from one position to another and are often accidentally torn loosefrom the baggage when in transit. Another construction of a baggagecheck is a tag which is formed as a strip adapted to be wrapped around asuitcase handle or strap as a loop. The loop is closed by connecting theends of the strip together. This construction avoids some disadvantagesof the string-connected types of tags. However, such looped tags arealso generally unsatisfactory since they are designed to fit loosely asupon a suitcase handle. If such checks are made of paper or cardboard,they often get in the way and are easily torn off when the baggage isbeing handled. For this reason tags of this type are not ordinarily usedif made of paper. Tags of this type are sometimes made of leather butsuch tags are comparatively expensive and are used as permanentappendages to the baggage.

With such considerations in view, the present inven-' tion was conceivedand developed, and comprises, in essence, a baggage check having a tagof paper or lightweight cardboard which may =be looped about a handle orstrap of the baggage. The invention incorporates a unique application oflatex adhesive coated surfaces to bind the ends of the tag together andalso to permit a folding of the tag loop about a baggage handle or stripin a manner which snugly grips the handle or strap to keep the loop in afixed position and generally out of the way of damage whenever thebaggage is being handled, as hereinafter described in detail.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the improved baggage checkis provided as an elongated, rectangular blank 10 of paper orlightweight cardboard which has sufficient thickness and rigidity tohold its shape under ordinary use. In this convenient form a largenumber of blanks may be stored and kept in a small carton or a number ofblanks may be temporarily bound together by gluing the ends together.This blank 10 includes the two components, a strip-shaped tag 11 and ashort stub 12 at one end of the tag. The stub is to eventually besevered from the tag and a transverse, perforated tear line 13 isdisposed between the tag and stub. To match the tag and stub after theyare separated like numerals 14, or other suitable like symbols areprinted on the outside face of the tag and on the stub.

The tag 11 is necessarily formed with an outer face whereon the numbers14 and other suitable printing, such as advertising, may be located andan inner face whose surfaces come together when the tag is folded upon asuitcase handle or strap. To effect such folding, a group of creases 15are located at the center portion of the strip-like tag and the twolarger portions of the inner face of this tag at each side of thecreases 15 are coated with a selected type of adhesive at 16.

To accomplish the primary purpose of the invention, the adhesive surfacecoatings 16 are of a latex type which is uniquely characterized by theproperty of not adhering to other types of surfaces but tightly adheringto like latex surfaces whenever two like surfaces are grought togetherwith slight pressure. Latex types of adhesive which have such a propertyare well known to the art and need not be further described.

PXGURES 3, 4 and 5 illustrate specifically how the baggage check isaffixed to a suitcase 17, as by wrapping the tag 11 about the legportion of a handle 18 or about a binding strip 19 or any like memberwhich may func tion as a carrying member for the tag. In either instanceit is to be noted that the loop 20, which is formed Patented Feb. 19,1963' 3 by the creases '15 in the center region of the tag, tightlyembraces its carrying member, the handle leg or strap, in such a manneras to prevent the tag 11 from slipping or rotating from its fixedposition. This is possible because of'the use of the specified type oflatex adhesive coatingsld which are at the inner face of the tag 11 andwhich extend from each end oi the tag to and preferably within theregion of the creases 1 as indicated at 21;. With the adhesive coatings16 thus formed on the inner surface, the tag 11 may be folded about itscarrying member with the end portions bound together by the adhesive andwith a comparatively tight crotch 22 where the loop comm ns In thepreferred construction, portions of the adhesive coated surfaces extendwithin the region of the creases, as described, and actually contact thehandle 18 or strap 19 While such latex-coated surfaces will not adhereto the carrying member, there is nevertheless a frictional grippingeiiect by the latex contacting the handle or strap which furtherrestrains movements between, the tag on, its carrying member.Furthermore, if desired,this adhesive ooating may extend completelyacross the region of the fold lines 15-. to take full advantage of thiseffect.

I The merits of this improved'tag, which-will stay where it is placed,are immediately obvious. The tag may be placed; on the leg portion ofthe handle 1-8 to outstand therefrom in a direction longitudinal withthe axis of the handle and it will not shift upwardly onto the grippingportion of the handle nor will it align itself, in a manner where itwillbe crushed when the handle is swung from side to side as when thebaggage is being handled. If

the handle is not to be used during transit, the tag may bedisposed-between the legs of the handle as indicated bybroken lineswhere'it will be safer from abuse and.

eahnotbe accidentally torn from he handle. Likewise,

the tag may be afiixed to a, strap in a manner which causes it to lieflatly against-the side. of the suitcase and:

in a position where there is; aminimum chance for the tag beingaccidently pulledor torn off the suitcase.

- I, have now described my invention in considerable detail, but it isobvious. that others skilled in the art can devise and 'build otheralternate and equivalent constructions which are nevertheless within thespirit and scope of my invention. Hence, I desire that my protection belimited, not by the constructions illustrated and described, but only bythe proper scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A baggage check comprising a stub and a tag, said tag being formed as anelongated, uniform, rectangular paperlike member, said tag having afolding portion at the center thereof formed by a series of paralleltransverse crease lines, and an adhesive continuously coating thesurface of one face of said member at each sid'eof, and extendingsomewhat into, the folding portion, said adhesive being characterized,by the property oi adhering. to like coated surfaces, but not adheringto, uncoated, surfaces, said stub consisting of an integral and uniform,

continuation of said tag projecting axially of one end portion of saidmember, the junction between said stub and said tag being; defined by atransverse, line, of petforations, the end portion of, said tag adjacentsaid stub and said stub having corresponding identifying indicia printedonthe same face thereof, said sa'me, face being opposite said one; face,whereby when said tag is afiixed to a holding member, it can be wrappedthereabout and aiiixed thereto by bringing the adhesive coated surfacesat each sideof said folding PDrtiqn toge her with, said. crease lines atthe folding portion facilitating; making a; snug wrap about the holdingmember andwith the, contacting adhesive coated surfaces; extending tothe edge of the wrap about the holding member thereby holding the wrapin asnug position preventing the tag, from shifting on the holdingmember and with the indiciafixedly supported in projecting, relation tothe holding member, and-whereby said stub can be tearingly detached fromsaid tag.

References Citcdinthe fileofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 857,778Wittstein June 25, 19.07 2,000,763 Lane May 7, 1935 2,098,164 Rice Nov.2, 1937

